"I have something for you do to."
Nimueh's simple greeting startled Morgana who had been attempting to keep herself warm in the caves of Nimueh's home.
"What is it?"
"There is a task which needs completing. You must go back to Camelot tonight."
Morgana's eyes widened. "I have no intention of returning there!"
"You must if you want to fulfill your quest."
"I have only been away for twelve days, I left for a reason.."
"Yes - to find a way of achieving your goal. Now you have your opportunity and you must do as I say or risk failing the Kingdom altogether."
"I will not do it. I refuse."
Angered at Morgana's defiance Nimueh stepped forwards. "Do you want Uther to keep his control over the Kingdom? Do you wish for Camelot to burn - like in your dream?"
The shock that Nimueh knew what Morgana had seen despite her having withheld that fact, Morgana made the mistake of showing her inner fear that Nimueh had the advantage. There was no choice but to relent. Seeing her give in, Nimueh smiled. "I thought not. You will go back to the Castle and be as you were - regain the Court's trust. Then I want you to kill the healer."
Morgana's mouth dropped open. "Kill Gaius?! What has he got to do with anything?"
The look on Nimueh's face was one of deep, cruel amusement. "Gaius may be the physician but he aids ills with science. The healer... is the traveller."
"Théa..." said Morgana in realisation, not quite knowing if she should believe it. "She can use magic?"
"Théa is magic. Her gift is naturally given. She may not wield spells but her talents are pure."
The lady shook her head, not quite understanding. "But why must she be killed? She is doing no harm, she is helping the court..."
Nimueh turned her back, walking to the well of which she stood by for countless hours undisturbed. "The closer she gets to the Prince the quicker our cause will fall," she replied. "she will prevent Uther from dying. As long as she remains in Camelot she remains a threat. This threat must be eliminated..... and you are to be the one who does it, by whatever means necessary."
Morgana thought back to the day she left Nimueh with a heavy heart. The closer she had got to Camelot the more the dread swept over her, the very notion of yet again being in Uther's domain, his controlling presence doing little to calm her nerves. She was surprised she had handled it so well, her reappearance causing a stir among the people. Perhaps it instilled some faith within them, some hope that Uther was not completely the callous man he had appeared. With the feast being held in little under an hour Morgana had no time to dwell on it but she could do nothing else. As Gwen went finding the small jewel which fit into Morgana's hair, the lady at least enjoyed the fact she was in the presence of her friend. Gwen had not said anything much about her time without her, nor had she asked many questions. She just seemed glad that Morgana was back safe and sound, and that Merlin had been right after all... how little she knew, however, that Morgana was here for a bigger purpose than just missing her home.
"You are going to be the envy of everyone this evening! As always," said Gwen, having found the pretty ornament and now making her way to fasten it on Morgana's styled hair. "Beautiful lady, honoured with festivities, a place by the King..."
Morgana tried to chuckle. "I don't know about the last point..."
"Well I do. Every girl would love tonight to be in her honour. I just hope Arthur behaves better than he did earlier on," she said with a frown.
"Arthur had every right to say what he did. It doesn't excuse him, however..." Morgana added, then gave Gwen a particular look which made both of them smile. At last, she felt a little better. "We both know that a lady should be treated as such."
"Of course!" Gwen agreed with a laugh. "And I am certain you will be treated that way tonight."
____________________________
The grand hall had been prepared in a rush but nobody would have known - the drapes down the wall were floating and rich in colour and the feast on the tables was to die for. Merlin doubted he'd ever seen such a display in his life. The atmosphere was quite light and a refreshing change. Morgana was obviously the centre of attention along with the King who was quite jovial at having his ward back by his side. So far Morgana had done a good job of acting the perfect repenting lady in court... yet when she caught a glimpse of Arthur and Théa conversing by the door her facade almost fell completely. Her shoulders tensed as she tried to tear her eyes away - how could a traveller, completely innocent in her being here, be so pivotal to whether she succeeded in saving Camelot? True, if she healed Uther after a fatal attack it would reverse anything Morgana had done to try and save the Kingdom. But killing her... as Théa laughed at something Arthur had said Morgana managed to look elsewhere, shifting her gaze towards Uther. He had greeted her with such affection but she still knew what he had done to her friend. Aldras had been exhiled from Camelot rather than executed but Morgana could still not forgive Uther for his acts of unkindness and ill judgement. Everyone continued to walk on eggshells around their leader and something still had to be done to protect the Kingdom.
"Welcome back."
Morgana turned to see Merlin at her side and she smiled. "That is the first time I have heard those words since I got here. Thank you, Merlin."
"Think nothing of it," he smiled, "it's nice to have you back around. Arthur was quite worried - Gwen was almost inconsolable..." While he spoke Morgana turned again to look at the Prince and the healer who had been joined by Gaius. Merlin noticed her focus of attention and followed it. "I know he was a bit out of order in what he said to you, but he was just - "
"I know." Morgana swallowed down the uneasy feeling which had settled in her stomach. As she watched Théa leave the others' company and move over to the feast Morgana acted on her duties, keeping an eye on her friends as Nimueh had said. "Tell me Merlin - what do you think of Théa?"
It was clear he was taken by surprise - opening his mouth several times he suddenly had the fear he was showing more of his inner thoughts than he ought to. "....Théa is - a really nice girl. She's talented in what she does. Gaius seems to like having her there with him, he's told me he enjoys teaching her. I think Arthur enjoys her company when she's with him and she took care of Gwen when... well, until you came home. She's always very nice to me. She's just... nice. More than nice, she's grand... well... a different word than grand..."
"Merlin," said Morgana in amusement, and she waited until he met her gaze. "It's alright to say you like her."
Merlin surpressed a blush. "Isn't that obvious in the first place?"
With a laugh Morgana nodded. "Kind of." But her smile was short-lived and it faded slowly. It was all very well and good knowing that Merlin was attached to this girl but that made what she had to do all the more difficult. Knowing that everyone else too, was not without their praise of her, added insult to injury and she doubted whether she could go through with it. Before Merlin could speak with her any more he saw the summoning wave of a blonde, floppy-haired man who he realised at the last moment to be Arthur.
"Oh... that's for me!" said Merlin jokingly, as if it was a novelty. "I have to go I'll... see you later - and welcome home..." he added, without knowing it just made Morgana's plight to be strong even harder.